Is a home theater even worth it or doable?

Yes, it's worth it if you are a film buff and have the space and separate walls from neighbors to make it worth your while.

It's not really that hard. At a basic level, it just involves setup and tuning to get the sound right. The hardest part is probably the subwoofer setup if your room isn't an ideal in shape and treatment.

Soundbar is always a compromise—even the premium soundbar setups. I'd recommend a 2.1 stereo + subwoofer vs. going with any soundbar solution. At least, you'd know your music is going to sound decent while your movies will still get a decent size soundstage.

Check out the upcoming Nakamichi Dragon sound bar system with 2 subs and wireless surrounds. It is supposed to bridge the gap between sound bar and a separates system. Looks pretty cool!

I’ve run several large home projection systems and they were always separate from the two channel hifi. At one point, I was using all ARC tube amps just for home theater, with a projector, native rate scaler and various inputs, there was Blu, HD, and eventually streaming. I used big Snells and and 18 and 15 inch Velodynes, with Meridan controller, etc. I also used a McI controller -pre-pro.

I still run top tier hi-fi, but one area where trickle down has occurred is home theatre. In the old days, a Farjoudja line quadrupler was 20k; now it is a cheap chip in most TVs or pre-pros. I had my share of hi-end pre pros and the market for those diminished. The quality I get from a 3 grand pre-pro into McI solid state and 5.1 plus good sub and big flat screen is more than adequate for my needs. I sort of lost interest in re-creating the theatrical experience (though it was fun in the day, starting in the ’90s with big CRT projectors and laser disc), but the quality/cost is ratio is better for the consumer now- you get more quality for the money and the gear is far less massive in terms of equipment installation.

I dunno about sound bars. I like the rear channel effects, a lot of stuff I watch is in 4k and sometimes in Atmos, though I didn’t set up all those additional speakers.

Maybe I’m just satisfied with less, but honestly, TV sound has limits given how sound tracks, dialog, etc. are patched together and as long as I get good quality video signal (I have Google fiber at 1 gig, so monster bandwidth for cheap), I just stream movies and tv series. For what it is, it is fine.

Audio for serious listening is a different matter in my book which is why, no matter how elaborate the video system, I kept the two channel set up separate.

*G* Video of any nature is just part of the menu here...

Been screwing ’round with a Walsh surround, and playing with what’s improbable.

In possession of 4 large Ess amts’ to complicate or placate.

Keeps me preoccupied when I can’t.

Thinking DBS for the bottom.

And a space right-sized.

Wish me luck.

F luck.

Time

*L*

J

😏

Life

is a drain ;)

In 1998 long before BluRay, I bought a mid-fi 5+1 channel system.  Cost was around £8,000 but the 40 inch screen was £3,500 of that then.  It had a big Denon amp, Ruark speakers, REL sub, Panasonic player.  The screen blew after 14 years so I bought a 50 inch.  I changed the player to cover BluRays when they arrived.

I have enjoyed this system for 25 years and don't want anything better.  Don't want streaming either.  By contrast, my 2 channel system would cost £150,000 at today's retail.

It's whatever you want; don't ask us for advice on a question like this.  Test dem a high-end theatre system and see if moves you.  Act accordingly